Category: Formation

Over the weekend, Rita OFS and I (Paula OFS) attended a retreat at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory NC. Fr. Peter Tremblay, a Franciscan Priest lectured about “Reading the Signs of the Times through the eyes of St. Francis”. Fr. Tremblay, a philosopher, theologian, and priest is also the Campus Catholic Minister and Chaplin at Elon University. His Franciscan insight into the world in which we currently live and the world in which St. Francis lived was truly insightful and thought provoking. Fr. Tremblay is a powerful presenter and passionate about his topics. He is not afraid …

Who are the Secular Franciscans? They are a community of Catholic men and women I the world who seek to pattern their lives after Christ in the spirit of St. Francis. We follow St. Francis’ example of perfect joy: the knowledge that with Jesus as our center we have true peace and all good. We foster community spirit through monthly fraternity meetings and other gatherings as well as through apostolic outreach, the community, and the wider world. In fraternity we help one another on our Secular Franciscan journey. We begin with a period of initial formation under the …

Today Most Holy Father Pope Francis canonized Blessed Pope Paul VI!! This is hugely significant for all Secular Franciscans, as we follow what is called the “Pauline Rule”. Auspicato Concessum, (Sept. 17, 1882) Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical letter glorified St.Francis of Assisi on the occasion of the seventh centenary of his birth. In this encyclical, the Pope presented the Third Order of St. Francis as a Christian answer to the social problems of the times. The constitution Misericors Dei Filius (June 23, 1883) expressly recalled that the neglect in which Christian virtues are held is the main cause of the evils …

June 24, 2018 is the 40th year anniversary of Blessed Pope Paul VI approval of the revised rule for the Secular Franciscan Order!!! So our jubilee year begins! CIOFS our international leaders have provided a wonderful video outlining the history of our order and how the Pauline rule came about. Enjoy! English: Spanish:

February 24th, 2018 Mr. Bernard Taft, OFS made his solemn profession to the Secular Franciscan Order! Bernie was joined in a Franciscan Mass of Profession presided over by Father Jim Collins of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Newton, NC. Bernie’s friends and Franciscan family were all present and the celebration continued afterward in the Holy Family Hall. Father Jim & Bernie

February 11th, 2017 our monthly fraternity gathering included a Rite of Admission ceremony for our latest candidate. During the ceremony the new candidate is provided a “Little Red Rule Book” of the Secular Franciscan Order and given a sign of the SFO, a wooden Tau cross worn around the neck. Formation in the Secular Franciscan Order consists of three periods of prayerful discernment and contemplation called Inquiry, Candidate and Profession. Candidacy is generally a period of 18 months to 36 months after which a temporary or permanent profession into the Secular Franciscan Order is made.